BROOK HOLLOW. Featuring a traditional Tillinghast design, this demanding course with relatively tight fairways and small greens requires that you hit the ball well to shoot a good score. To be in great shape, avoid trees off the tee, and accurately place the ball in the fairway to avoid being blocked out for the approach. Take advantage of early holes since they only get harder as the round goes on.

HEATH. A championship course, Buffalo Creek has garnered recognition from the likes of "Golf Digest" (which awarded it four stars) and "Golf Week" (which named it one of Texas's top 15 courses). Featuring rolling, tree-lined fairways and tantalizing water hazards, the course offers challenges for even the most experienced golfers. Located about 30 minutes east of downtown Dallas.

LEWISVILLE. Surprisingly enough, this tough course is noteworthy for its hilly terrain, an oddity in relatively flat Dallas. Golfers of all skill levels find ample challenges ­ rolling fairways that sometimes hide greens, numerous water hazards, difficult out-of-bounds areas, and unforgiving greens. Be ready for number seven, a "mere" 200-plus-yarder highlighted by a beautiful pond ­ just don't let the scenery distract you!

PLANO. A course that requires you to think about each shot, this demanding layout puts up a good fight. These fairways are relatively tight with a handful of streams and ponds creating further problems. The greens are quick and hard to hit. Higher shots will tend to hold better, however that brings the wind further into play, greatly increasing the difficulty of these already tough approaches.

GRAPEVINE. This beautiful course, located northwest of Dallas, offers tree-lined fairways that give you numerous opportunities to show off shot accuracy. Marked by elevation changes, water hazards, and plush forests, Cowboys challenges even the most seasoned golfers.